Can-cover-feeding device.



J. BRENZINGER.

CAN COVER FEEDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, I917.

Patented 1 2, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

l/ll t E/V TOR ATTORNEY ms NoRms PEYERS 50., mom-ma. wnsuuvanm, n. c.

J. BRENZINGER. CAN COVER FEEDING DEVICE. APPLICATION man JUNE 25, 1917.

Patented July 2, 1918.

2 SHEEIfi-SHEET 2.

IIV VE/V TOR m: mmms PETEHS ca, PHOTD-LITHQ. WASHING mu. 0. c.

JULIUS nnnnzrnenn, or rniarrnnn,

oo'nnncrrcur, essrenon TO sanrrnnr can UAN-GOVER-FEEDING- DEVICE.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented July Q, this,

Application filed June 25, 191?. Serial no. mecca To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS BRENZINGER, acitizen of the United States,residing at Fairfield, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCan-Cover- Feeding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to devicesappurtenant to can headingmachines or, more specifically, to can-body and cover assembling andfeeding devices for can heading machines-for successively delive1= ing acover to and positioning the same on the open end of a filled can intransit to the seaming mechanism, with more particular reference tocovers for so-called square cans.

In connection with more modern methods of what is generally termedsanitary can construction, these covers are provided with a taperingcentral depression adapted to fit within the open end of the container,and with a flange adapted to be intercurled with a flange on the canbody at said open end thereof to form a hermetic seam. It will beapparent that if the cover flanges are straight, the covers will closelynest when a plurality thereof are assembled in superposed or stackedarrangement which has been proven tobe the most practical and convenientarrangement in connection with devices for automatically feeding thesecovers successively to filled cans for the performance of the usualdouble-seaming operationsand when so nested it has been foundpractically impossible to insure repeatedly perfect operations of thefeeding mechanism, which generally includes an edged tool or tools whichmust be passed between the bottom or lowermost covers of the stack andthe one next above the same to support the remainder of the stack duringwithdrawal or removal of the bottom cover. Therefore, it was founddesirable-if not actually essential-in connection with covers forsocalled round cans, to uniformly bend or turn down the edge of theflange to prevent nestmg that is to say, to have the efiect of slightlyspacing apart the superposedcovers so that theeolged .sparating toolsmight be readily and dependably passed between contiguous overs. I

In connection with square. can cr tters, however, a continuousdownatinea flange edge was found to be objectionable, for reasons whichI have clearly set forth in a copending application, filed June 8, 1917,Serial No. 17 3,491, in which I have shown and described a squarecan-cover in connection with which nesting is prevented by turning downopposite substantially straight portions only of the flange, therebyinsuring dependable operations of the feeding devices without subjectingthe cover to the objections to a continuous down-turned flangeedge.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of asimple, eflicaCiOl s and dependable cover feeding device, andparticularly one for feeding covers for square cans, such as those shownand filescri zoed in my co-pending application, aforesalc.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which-Figure 1 is a partly sectional top plan View of a device embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig.1, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section, corresponding to Fig. 3, showing thefeeding tools in the alternate relative positions.

As hereinabove suggested, it is to be understood that the device nowabout to be described is designed to be appurtenant to mechanism forconveying filled cans to the seaming mechanism of a can heading machine.With this conveying mechanism, the present invention has nothing to do,other than to be so positioned with respect thereto as to deliver anejected cover to an advancing-or temporarily checked-can body inproperly assembled relationship for the seaming operation, although, sofar as this invention is concerned, it will be apparent that thewithdrawn or ejected cover may drop into the chute or be otherwiseindirectly delivered to'the can to be headed.

A practical and convenient embodiment f my v nt on comprises afrantic-Whis includ s s bs nt ally hea y ba -sl te 7 pr vided i h a entorific 18, m te ab y of h gene a out n o a as can cover of a certainsize, with its rounded corners, alt eua o slight y grea e enasione thanthe cover whereby the latter will freely pass therethrough. Mounted inthe plate 7 and projecting upwardly therefrom are the retaining andguide posts 9 9, preferably six in number and arranged one at each endand two at each side of the slightly elongated orifice 8. These postsare so relatively positioned as to loosely receive therespaced therefrompreferably by means of suitable blocks 10 10 through which pass thebolts 1111, are the plates 12 and 13, one on each side of the frame.These plates 12 and 13 form with the plate 7 what may be termedbearing-ways 14 and 15 for the pairs of superposed levers 16 17 and 1819, respectively. These levers project from the frame 7 and I have shownthe projecting ends of each pair thereof bent toward each other andhaving common pivotal connection with the link-bars 20 and 21,respectively, the other ends of which are pivoted on the stud 22 mountedin the bar 23 which is reciprocable in slide bearings or ways providedby the arms 24: and 25 carried by and projecting from the plate 7.

, The upper levers 16 and 18, of each pair, are pivoted at 26 and 27respectively, intermediate the ends thereof, wherefore outward movementof the projecting ends of said leverscauses inward movement of the innerends thereof. The lower levers 17 and 18, of each of said pairs, arepivoted at 28 and 29, respectively, at the inner ends thereof, whereforeoutward movement of the projecting ends of said levers causes outwardmovement of the same throughout substantially the entire length thereof.Therefore, reciprocation of the bar 23 in one direction, operatingthrough the link-bars 20 and 21 to move the projecting lever ends awayfrom each other, will cause the inner ends of the upper levers 16and 18to move toward each otherand toward the stack of can covers 0 0,supported between the posts 9 9and corresponding portions of the lowerlevers 17 and 19 to move away from each other-and consequently away fromsaid stack.

At the inner ends of the upper levers 16 and 18 are mounted the edgedplates 30 and 31, respectively, and mounted in corresponding positionson the lower levers 17 and 19 are the plates 32 and 33. In what may betermed the initialrelative positions of the levers, the edged plates 30and 31 project under the stack of covers and support the 'same,asclearly' shown in Fig. 3. Reciprocation of the bar 23 in a directionto separate the inner ends of the levers 16 and 18 will now have theefiect of separating the plates 30 and 31 and withdrawing the same fromunderneath the stack. At the same time, corresponding portions of thelower levers 17 and 19 are being moved inwardly, toward each other,carrying the plates 32 and 33 to positions underneath side edges of thebottom cover of the stack. Therefore, upon withdrawal of the edgedplates 30 and 31, the plates 32 and 33 will be positioned to receive andsupport the stack, substantially as shown in Fig. 4. Now, uponreciprocation of the bar 23 in the other direction, as the plates 32 and33 are being withdrawn, the comparatively sharp edges of the plates 30and 31 will be passed between the bottom cover of the stack and thecover next above the same, thereby supporting the remainder of the stackwhile the bottom cover drops by gravity through the orifice 8 upon anadvancing can or upon a chute or other means for conveying the same fordelivery indirectly upon the can to be headed.

I have shown the plates 30 and 31 provided with recesses 34 34underneath the penetrating edges of the same in order to provideclearance for the covers in process of withdrawal, and I have also shownthe edges of these plates inclined, to effect what may be termed ashearing movement and insure free penetration of the stack withoutpossibility of mutilation of the turned flange of a cover should theflange-edge have been imperfectly turned.

Many modifications of minor details of my improved can-cover feedingdevice will doubtless readily suggest themselves to those skilled in theart to which it appertains, and I therefore do not desire to limit myinvention to the specific construction herein shown and described.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a device ofthe character described, the combination, with primary means forsupporting a stack of can covers and secondary supporting means adaptedto be interposed between the bottom cover and the remainder of thestack, both of said supporting means having reciprocatory 1novcmentonly, of separate means each common to portions of both said primary andsaid secondary supporting means and having common actuating means forsuccessively rendering the two supporting means alternately effective.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination, with primarymeans for supporting a stack of can covers from opposite sides of thebottom cover of the stack, and relatively corres iiondingly located secondary supporting means adapted to be interposed between the bottomcover and the remainder of the stack, of separate means each common toportions of both primary and secondary supporting means on one side ofsaid stack and having common actuating means for successively renderingthe two supporting means alternately effective.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination, with primarymeans for supporting a stack of can covers and secondary supportingmeans adapted to be interposed between the bottom cover and the aremainder of the stack, both of said supporting means havingreciprocatory movement only, of pairs of oppositely oscillating leversfor supporting and actuating both of said supporting means, and meansfor oscillating said levers to successively render the two supportingmeans alternately efi'ective, said last-mentioned means includingseparate connecting means each common to a lever in each pair thereof.

l. I11 a device of the character described, the combination, withprimary means for supporting a stack of can covers from opposite sidesof the bottom cover of the stack, and relatively correspondingly locatedsecondary supporting means adapted to be interposed between the bottomcover and the remainder of the stack, of pairs of oppositely oscillatinglevers for supporting and actuating both of said supporting means, andmeans for oscillating said levers to suecessively render the twosupporting means alternately effective, said last-mentioned meansincluding separate connecting means each common to a lever in each pairthereof.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination, with primarymeans for supporting a stack of can covers and secondary supportingmeans adapted to be interposed between'the bottom cover and theremainder of the stack, of pairs of oppositely oscillating levers uponwhich both of said supporting means are mounted, a reciprocating member,and connecting means between said member and said levers and includingactuating parts each common to a lever in each pair thereof foroscillating said levers to successively render the two supporting meansalternately effective.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination, with primarymeans for supporting a stack of can covers from opposite side edges ofthe bottom cover of the stack, and similar secondary supporting Copiesof this patent may be obtained for means adapted to be interposedbetween the bottom cover and the remainder of the stack, of two pairs oflevers in superposed arrangement, said primary supporting means beingsupported and actuated by the lower pair of levers and said secondarysupporting means being supported and actuated by the upper pair oflevers, and means common to a lever in each pair thereof for oscillatingoperative portions of the levers of both pairs in opposite. directions.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination, with primarymeans for supporting a stack of can covers from the opposite side edgesof the bottom cover of the stack, and similarsecondary supporting meansadapted to be interposed between the bottom cover and the remainder ofthe stack, of two pairs of levers in superposed arrangement, saidprimary supporting means being supported and actuated by the lower pairof levers and said secondary supporting means being supported andactuated by the upper pair of levers, a reciprocating member, andconnecting means between said member and all said levers and includingactuating parts each common to a lever in each pair thereof foroscillating operative portions of the levers of both pairs in oppositedirections. 7

8. In a device of the character described, the combination, with primarymeans for supporting a stack of can covers from opposite side edges ofthe bottom cover of the stack, and similar secondary supporting meansadapted to be interposed between the bottom cover and the remainder ofthe stack, of two pairs of levers in superposed arrange ment, saidprimary supporting means being supported and actuated by the lower pairof levers and said secondary supporting means being supported andactuated by the upper pair of levers, a reciprocating member, and a pairof link-bars each pivoted at one end thereof to said reciprocatingmemher and atthe other end thereof to a lever in each of said pairs oflevers to oscillate operative portions of the levers of each pair inopposite directions.

In testimony of the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand in thepresence of two Witnesses.

JULIUS BRENZINGER. Witnesses:

ANNA DICK BnnNs'rmN, HENRY O. Bonnouens.

Waahtnmrtan, n. W.

